Weighing machine

ABSTRACT

A weighing machine comprising a platform on which an individual stands, and a base for supporting the platform through a weighing mechanism. A movable contact is adapted to be rotated in unison with a weight scale disc which is, in turn, rotatable by an amount in proportion to the load placed on the platform, a plurality of slidable contact plates being opposed to the movable contact, and a plurality of lamps being adapted to be separately lit as the contact is rotated through engagement with the slidable contact plates. And an adjustable height scale ring is arranged in concentric relation with the weight scale disc peripherally bearing a height scale and carrying the slidable contact plates, with which a weighted person may recognize at a glance the interrelation between an actual weight of the weighed person and the optimum weight relative to a particular height of the weighed person according to a lit lamp and the lamp corresponding to the optimum weight through operation of manually coordinating the height scale ring to the weight of the weighed person.

United States Patent Yamajima [54] WEIGHING MACHINE [72] Inventor: KaneoYamajima, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TanitaSeisakusho,

. Tokyo-to, Japan 22 Filed: Sept. 23, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 74,684

659,910 10/1900 Baldwin ..l77/245 X 1,446,552 2/1923 Dunn ..l77/1771,869,438 8/1932 Reeves et a1 ..177/177 Primary Examiner-Robert S. Ward,Jr. Attorney-Steinberg & Blake [15] 3,655,003 1 Apr. 11, 1972 l ABSTRACTA weighing machine comprising a platform on which an individual stands,and a base for supporting the platform through a weighing mechanism. Amovable contact is adapted to be rotated in unison with a weight scaledisc which is, in turn, rotatable by an amount in proportion to the loadplaced on the platform, a plurality of slidable contact plates beingopposed to the movable contact, and a plurality of lamps being adaptedto be separately lit as the contact is rotated through engagement withthe slidable contact plates. And an adjustable height scale ring isarranged in concentric relation with the weight scale disc peripherallybearing a height scale and carrying the slidable contact plates, withwhich a weighted person may recognize at a glance the interrelationbetween an actual weight of the weighed person and the optimum weightrelative to a particular height of the weighed person according to a litlamp and the lamp corresponding to the optimum weight through operationof manually coordinating the height scale ring to the weight of theweighed person.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR H I972 8,655,003

SHEEI 1 [IF 2 INVENTOR KANEO mMAJ/MA BY A ORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION A weighing machine is well known of which a part bears anindication of the optimum relation between height and weight in thehuman body by which it is possible to calculate the relation between theactual weight and height of the weighed person and the optimuminterrelation. This comparison, however, is usually accomplished on thebasis of a comparison scale provided on a part of the weighing machine.With such a weighing machine, therefore, the weighed person has had toread anew his or her own weight on the comparison scale afterdetermining his or her own weight. It would be very convenient for theweighed person if the interrelation between his or her own actual weightand the optimum weight for his or her own actual height can berecognized in concurrence with weighing and it is extremely desirablethat the degree of over or under weight relative to the optimum weightcan be recognized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first object of the present invention is toprovide a weighing machine having a weighing mechanism adapted toindicate the optimum relation between height and weight, whereinlighting of lamps indicates legibly and clearly whether the weight of aweighed person is optimum for his or her height.

The second object of the invention is to provide a weighing machineadapted to indicate through said lighting of lamps whether an actualweight of the weighed person is optimum or not and at the same time toindicate a degree of over or under weight according to the position ofthe particular lamp which is lit.

' The third object of the invention is to provide the weighing machineas mentioned above wherein the lamps are of different colors for easyand clear indication.

The fourth object of the invention is to provide the weighing machine asmentioned above wherein in a scale plate bearing a height scale isprovided separately of the weight scale plate so that each of manyweighed persons may individually adjust the height scale plate to his orher own height in individual weighing.

The fifth and final object of the invention is to make the appearance ofthe machine more attractive and to interest the user through lighting oflamps.

The other objects of the invention will be understood from reading thedetailed description of the specification with reference to the annexeddrawing.

According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by aplurality of lamps symmetrically arranged on one side of the platformrelative to a center lamp which indicates the optimum value, the heightscale plate or ring rotatably mounted in concentric relation with theweight scale plate so as to be manually positioned, a plurality ofslidable contact plates on this height scale plate being connected tosaid lamps, respectively, and a movable contact secured to the weightscale plate being brought into contact with said slidable contact platesso as to light the corresponding lamp. Approximate amount of over orunder weight in comparison with the optimum value can be recognized at aglance according to the position of a lamp which is lit relative to thecenter lamp indicating the optimum value by limiting the effectivecontact range of each slidable contact plate to a predetermined amountof the weight scale plate, for example, to kg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the weighingmachine according to the present invention will be shown by the annexeddrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the weighing machine according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of an important part of the weighingmachine as shown by FIG. 1, illustrating the relation between a heightscale ring and a weight scale disc; and

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram in the weighing machine according to theinvention.

rotatable around the shaft 32 and bears a DESCRIPTION OF PREFERREDEMBODIMENT In a preferred embodiment as shown by FIGS. 1 to 3, aplatform 11 on which an individual stands has a window 12 through whichscales are read and is carried through a weighing mechanism on a base13. The weighing mechanism may be that of prior art wherein the platformis supported on four arms which are, in turn, supported by respectivecoil springs, or is supported by two plate-like frames. The platform 11is provided at its front end with a casing 14 projecting therefrom andthis casing 14 has a blue lamp 15 arranged on the center of uppersurface thereof, and two yellow lamps 16, 16 and two red lamps 17, 17which are symmetrically arranged with predetermined distances from saidblue lamp 15. The casing 14 is additionally provided on lower portionthereof with a battery casing 18. The blue, yellow and red lamps 15, 16and 17 are respectively connected at their poles on one side to slidablecontact plates 20, 21 and 22 of a height scale plate or ring 24 as willbe described below (as shown by FIG. 3), and at their poles on otherside to a battery 31. A weight scale disc 23 is arranged so as to berotated together with a shaft 32 by the weighing mechanism (not shown)and to indicate a weight value through a weight scale 30 thereon and anindicator 29. The height scale ring 24 is arranged closely around theperiphery of said weight scale disc 23 so as to be height scale 28opposed to the weight scale 30 on the weight scale disc 23. The heightscale ring 24 is provided on its periphery with teeth 27 meshing with agear 26 which is integral with a knob 25 projecting from upper surfaceof the platform 11 through an opening therein. A movable contact 19 issecured on the under side of the weight scale disc 23 in the path ofmovement of the slidable contact plates 20, 21 and 22 which are securedon the height scale plates 24 so as to be rotatable together therewithas already described. An end 19 of the movable contact 19 which is bentand elastic is adapted to engage said slidable contact plates 20, 21 and22 with an almost negligible friction as the weight scale disc 23rotates.

Now a consideration should be taken for so-called optimum proportionbetween height and weight of a human body before the use of the weighingmachine according to the invention is described. For the averageJapanese, the optimum proportion is usually given by a relation, asfollows:

(height given in cm X 0.9 weight given in kg.

Such a relation may more or less depend on some factors such as racesand states of particular countries. For Japanese, the relation indicatesthat the height of cm preferably corresponds to the weight of 54 kg. Theweighing machine according to the invention has the height scale 28 andthe weight scale 30 on the scale ring 24 and the scale disc 23,respectively, in conformity with the conversion rate as given by theabove relation. Lengths of the slidable contact plates 20, 21 and 22correspond to the range of the weight scale 30 extending over i 5 kg. sothat, the blue lamp 15 is lit in the range of the optimum weight value 15 kg for a particular height value, indicating the particular weightvalue being substantially in the optimum range for the particular heightvalue, the yellow lamps 16 16 are lit in the range of: 5 kg to i 10 kgfrom the optimum weight value, and the red lamps 17, 17 are lit in therange beyond :t: 10 kg from the optimum weight value.

A person using the scale rotates the knob 25 until his or her own heighton the height scale ring 24 is accurately aligned with the indicator 29before weighing. Such a coordination also accomplishes movement of theslidable contact plates 20, 21 and 22. When an individual places his orher own weight on the platform 11, the scale disc 23 is rotated by anamount in proportion to the weight and indicates the weight value at theposition of the indicator 29. Simultaneously the movable contact 19 isrotated together with the weight scale disc 23 and the end 19' thereofcomes into contact with the slidable contact plate 20, 21 or 22 wherebythe corresponding lamps are lit. In case of the optimum weight for aparticular height said movable contact 19 is brought into contact withthe slidable contact plate 20 and the blue lamp 15 is continuously lit.In case of the optimum weight value 3-. 5 kg, one of the yellow lamps16, 16 symmetrically arranged with respect to the blue lamp is lit. Ifthe loaded scale disc 23 rotates in a counterclockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 2, the left one of the yellow lamps 16, 16 is litindicating over weight and the right one of the yellow lamps 16, 16 islit indicating under weight. This is similar for the red lamps 17, 17.The range of comparatively indicating the weight and the height may beoptionally selected by changing the contact range of each slidablecontact plate 20, 21 and 22 in correspondence with the range of theweight scale disc 23.

With the weighing machine of the invention, as aforementioned, theweighed person may directly recognize the relationship between his orher weight and an ideal weight according to the particular lamp beinglit all that is required is the preliminary operation of merelypositioning the height scale plate according to his or her own heightvalue.

Thus, according to the invention the weighing machine includes aheight-indicating means which is adjustable to indicate the height of agiven individual, a weighing means for indicating the weight of theindividual, and an indicatingmeans operatively connected with theheight-indicating means and the weighing means and including a pluralityof lamps one of which is lit when the weighing means indicates theweight of the individual for indicating by the lamp which is lit therelationship between the actual weight of the individual and his idealweight.

What is claimed is:

1. A weighing machine comprising height-indicating means for indicatingthe height of a person using the weighing machine, weighing means forweighing a person, and relationship-indicating means operativelyconnected with said heightindicating means and said weighing means andincluding a plurality of lamps adapted to be lit according to therelative position between said height-indicating means and weighingmeans for indicating the relationship between the actual weight of anindividual and his ideal weight.

2. A weighing machine according to claim 1, wherein saidheight-indicating means for indication of height is adjustable incoordination with a particular height of the weighed person.

3. A weighing machine according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of saidlamps are arranged in a line and one of said lamps is lit according to aparticular value given by the weighing means.

4. A weighing machine according to claim 2, wherein theheight-indicating means comprises a height scale plate adapted to berotated in concentric relation with a weight scale plate.

5. A weighing machine according to claim 3, wherein said plurality oflamps include a center lamp and are associated with saidheight-indicating means and are adapted to indicate any over or underweight relative to an optimum weight value for the particular heightvalue depending upon the the lamp which is lit relative to the centerlamp.

6. A weighing machine according to claim 4, wherein the height scaleplate is provided with slidable contact plates in a line electricallyconnected with said plurality of lamps, respectively, and the weightscale plate is provided with a movable contact opposed to said slidablecontact plates.

7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein an adjusting means isoperatively connected with said height-indicating means for adjustingthe latter according to the height of the person using the weighingmachine, said relationship-indicating means including a series of firstcontacts respectively connected electrically with said lamps, and saidweighing means including a second contact which moves with said weighingmeans when the latter indicates the weight of a person using theweighing machine, said first contacts being arranged in a row along thepath of movement of said second contact so that a given one of saidfirst contacts will be engaged by said second contact to illuminate oneof said lamps for indicating the relationship between the weight of aperson using the weighing machine and his ideal weight.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said lamps include a centrallamp and a plurality of additional lamps arranged before and after saidcentral lamps symmetrically with respect thereto while said seriesoffirst contacts include a center first contact operatively connected withsaid central lamp, whereby the particular lamp which is illuminated willindicate said relationship according to its position with respect to thecenter lamp, the latter lamp indicating the ideal weight.

9. The combination of claim 8 and wherein said series of first contactsrespectively have a length which will provide for illumination of one ofsaid lamps within a given weight range.

position of

1. A weighing machine comprising height-indicating means for indicatingthe height of a person using the weighing machine, weighing means forweighing a person, and relationship-indicating means operativelyconnected with said height-indicating means and said weighing means andincluding a plurality of lamps adapted to be lit according to therelative position between said heightindicating means and weighing meansfor indicating the relationship between the actual weight of anindividuAl and his ideal weight.
 2. A weighing machine according toclaim 1, wherein said height-indicating means for indication of heightis adjustable in coordination with a particular height of the weighedperson.
 3. A weighing machine according to claim 2, wherein a pluralityof said lamps are arranged in a line and one of said lamps is litaccording to a particular value given by the weighing means.
 4. Aweighing machine according to claim 2, wherein the height-indicatingmeans comprises a height scale plate adapted to be rotated in concentricrelation with a weight scale plate.
 5. A weighing machine according toclaim 3, wherein said plurality of lamps include a center lamp and areassociated with said height-indicating means and are adapted to indicateany over or under weight relative to an optimum weight value for theparticular height value depending upon the position of the lamp which islit relative to the center lamp.
 6. A weighing machine according toclaim 4, wherein the height scale plate is provided with slidablecontact plates in a line electrically connected with said plurality oflamps, respectively, and the weight scale plate is provided with amovable contact opposed to said slidable contact plates.
 7. Thecombination of claim 1 and wherein an adjusting means is operativelyconnected with said height-indicating means for adjusting the latteraccording to the height of the person using the weighing machine, saidrelationship-indicating means including a series of first contactsrespectively connected electrically with said lamps, and said weighingmeans including a second contact which moves with said weighing meanswhen the latter indicates the weight of a person using the weighingmachine, said first contacts being arranged in a row along the path ofmovement of said second contact so that a given one of said firstcontacts will be engaged by said second contact to illuminate one ofsaid lamps for indicating the relationship between the weight of aperson using the weighing machine and his ideal weight.
 8. Thecombination of claim 7 and wherein said lamps include a central lamp anda plurality of additional lamps arranged before and after said centrallamps symmetrically with respect thereto while said series of firstcontacts include a center first contact operatively connected with saidcentral lamp, whereby the particular lamp which is illuminated willindicate said relationship according to its position with respect to thecenter lamp, the latter lamp indicating the ideal weight.
 9. Thecombination of claim 8 and wherein said series of first contactsrespectively have a length which will provide for illumination of one ofsaid lamps within a given weight range.